Food:
There are lots of excellent restaurants in the area and the sitting room is provided with an information file for guests, pointing out the price range of the various restaurants and giving directions how to get there.
The owners provide food for guests arriving at the house - the food depends on the time of day that guests arrive. Wine ( vinho verde ) is also free as it is made at the farm.
Eat well,walk lots, swim, visit historic towns:
The owners of the farm have an up to date information file for guests and in the sitting room there is a DVD of the places of interest near the house
There are lots of walks around, swimming pools in Taipas, childrens play parks in Taipas and at Bom Jesus ( 5-10 minsa away). Lots of water sports at Geres national park, 40 mins away.
There is an excellent adventure park, Diverlanhoso, for teenagers 30 mins away.
Lots of places to visit such as Braga and Guimarães ( hisoric towns), Porto, the Douro valley, Viana do Castelo ( seaside) and Esposende ( seaside ).
The area abounds in monasteries ( Tibães), cathedrals ( Braga ), churches, parks and gardens.
For those interested in history there is Citania de Briteiros which is a Celtic settlement, 10 mins away.
There are restaurants and cafes in Longos, Taipas and of course Braga and Guimaraes - it is possible to eat out very reasonably
The grapes grown make vinho verde:
Wine is made on the farm and guests are welcome to wander around the vines and look around the adega (wine house). Free white and red wine is provided to guests. The wine is called Serra de Lombão, the name of the mountain range in front of the house.
Portugal itself has excellent wines- the reds from the Douro and the Alentejo are sold in the local supermarkets and are definitely worth trying ( and enjoying ).
Vinho verde ( can be red or white ) is very regional - most people who are new to the area love the white and are not too keen on the red. The locals drink the red out of bowls ( 'malgas') !
